Stop saying, "I should go to bed"

If telling yourself, "I should go to bed" actually made you go to bed, we wouldn't have a $300B sleep deprivation issue* in the United States.

"Should" doesn't make going to bed appealing. When you're thinking about going to bed as a frustrating obligation, of course you won't want to do it, especially when the alternative is judging the cast of Selling Sunset or finally beating that Elden Ring boss you've been stuck on for days.

If you have a nightly habit of staying up later than you want, the solution isn't to force yourself into bed, it's to make sleep something you want to do.

You want going to bed to feel like a delicious, delightful prospect instead of an obligation because you need good sleep. Period. This is one of those biological truths that is nearly impossible to dispute (though the internet has taught me that plenty of people will try).

Sleep is the foundation upon which your entire life is built. If it’s shaky, everything else will be too. Sleep affects your health, your cognition, your emotional stability, your appetite…the list goes on.

Here are thoughts?that demonstrate you and sleep are not good friends:

• "I'll go to bed after this episode."
• "I need some time to relax before I go to bed."
• "This is my only time to...[insert any activity]."
• "I wish I didn't have to sleep so much."

What if instead you were thinking things like...

• "Just stepping into my bedroom feels like an exhale."
• "The feeling of freshly changed sheets is the best thing in the world."
• "Sleep is self-care."
• "The time I get to myself before falling asleep is so relaxing and chill."
• "Going to bed feels like coming home."

That makes me want to go put on my jammies, even though I'm writing this at 11am. That is some seductive sleep right there.

So what can you do to make sleep a more alluring prospect??

First and foremost, you want to clean up your thoughts about going to bed and sleep (see above). If you hate sleep, sleep will hate you. You can also...

• Get comfy jammies that?make you feel good.?
• Listen to your favorite podcast while you're brushing?your teeth.
• Splurge on those crisp, white, hotel-quality sheets.?
• Have a bedtime book that has you wanting to turn the next page.?
• Put a chocolate on your pillow.

Do anything and everything that will make your bedtime experience a complete and utter pleasure.

The ROI on better sleep is tremendous…way more than that family vacation or yoga retreat you were going to do to put on a band-aid on your exhaustion.

So if you’re ready to give your rest a complete top to bottom makeover, make sure you join the Black Sheep Playground ASAP. We will be debugging?sleep and rest?all this month. Whether it's waking up too early or not falling asleep, you'll get evidence-based tools to completely revamp those crucial hours you spend in bed each day.

Much love,

Meg

*Hafner M, Stepanek M, Taylor J, Troxel WM, van Stolk C. Why Sleep Matters-The Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep: A Cross-Country Comparative Analysis.?Rand Health Q. 2017;6(4):11. Published 2017 Jan 1.